Simi Valley veteran cop named Officer of the Year by peers

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR
Josh McAlister, a senior officer with the Simi Valley Police Department, makes a suspected DUI arrest. McAlister, a 15-year veteran of the department, has been elected Officer of the Year by his peers.

Karen Quincy Loberg

A 15-year veteran of the Simi Valley Police Department has been named its Officer of the Year.

Senior Officer Josh McAlister was nominated and voted on by his peers in the agency. He said the award humbled him.

“It meant a lot that one, my peers nominated me, and two, made it possible for me to win the award,” he said.

McAlister started his career as a young police Explorer in his Alabama hometown.

“As a kid, it was something that interested me and I wanted to peruse,” McAlister, 37, said of law enforcement.

He joined the Army at 18 and served five years as a military police officer. While stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, McAlister completed tours in Haiti and Bosnia.

His wife was also in the Army, and the two moved to Simi Valley, where they had three children, now ages 10, 11 and 14.

During his career with the Simi Valley Police Department, McAlister has worked as a crisis negotiator and narcotics detective. His new role is training officer for new hires.

As a narcotics detective, McAlister spent most of his time in downtown Los Angeles as part of a federal task force.

Simi police Cmdr. Robert Arabian, who started in the department around the same time as McAlister, described the officer as trustworthy and dependable.

“Josh is the kind of guy you want to be out there dealing with the public,” Arabian said. “He’s the kind of guy who would do the right thing, especially when no one is looking.”

The commander said McAlister is humble and not used to getting attention, but the award is much deserved.

“It is really a high honor to have your peers think that much about you,” he said.

McAlister said his favorite part of the job is being able to make a difference in people’s lives.

“Most of the time we’re called when things are going bad. If I can be there to make things a little different, I’m happy to help out,” he said.

McAlister said his family is proud of his success. “They’re the reason I’ve made it so far,” McAlister said. “They were able to sacrifice and make it possible for all the work I do.”

His only son has expressed interest in becoming a firefighter, and McAlister is OK with that.

“As long as all my kids are successful, I’ll support them no matter what they decide to do.”

McAlister was recognized at the Kiwanis Law Day Dinner on May 9 and a Simi Valley police awards luncheon May 14. He will also be recognized at the Simi Valley City Council meeting on Monday.